WTF Happened to Cloud Atlas?

Regarding the most polarizing cinematic visions in the past decade or so, it’s hard not to think of Cloud Atlas - the ambitious, centuries-spanning Sci-Fi epic directed by Tom Tykver and the Wachowskis. Also recorded as one of the most expensive independent films ever produced, the bold spiritual journey at the heart of Cloud Atlas divided audiences down the middle, leaving many to scratch their heads and ponder what the fate of the characters meant in the end. After all, the star-studded ensemble cast played multiple roles in the film across various timelines, with the story spanning from 1849 to 2321 in ways that intrinsically crossover and connect to a cerebral puzzle piece for viewers to solve. As such, a movie like Cloud Atlas warrants repeat viewings like no other.
Although recent reappraisals of the film have been more favorable in retrospect, a lot went into the making of Cloud Atlas that even the most hardcore fanatics may have missed. Between the development of the project, independent financing, and rising budgetary costs, to the altered shooting schedule resulting from an A-list injury, last-minute character changes, and casting decisions, to the division of directorial labor, musical compositions, and Warner Bros. nearly abandoning the project several times, why not look up to the sky and wonder once and for all…What The F*ck Happened to Cloud Atlas!
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[@MrHootiedean]

Cloud Atlas is criminally underrated. Personally, I think it's a masterpiece.

[@tejasgingerbelle87]

It truly is a masterpiece! I totally agree!

[@mcnultyssobercompanion6372]

Agreed. I love it. Shit, I might watch my Blu-ray tonight.

[@Axolotl_Mischief]

Agreed.

[@s1ck845t4rd]

i have to admit that some of the plot lines went waaaaaaaay above my head the first time ive seen it, but fuck me pink i love that movie!

[@mcnultyssobercompanion6372]

@@s1ck845t4rd lol....sometimes you just love a film even though you don't quite get it. _Personally_ I believe that Oswald shot Kennedy, but I love Oliver Stone's "JFK". I feel _that_ is a masterpiece. Don't really believe much of it, lol....but I love it. It's just beautiful cinema.

[@01kostis]

Cloud Atlas was way ahead of its time. And the fun part is, that it still is.

[@nitaweitzel822]

I 💕😘💕😘💕 this movie

[@mortensteen]

Absolute masterpiece. One of those movies you're lucky to see once every decade.

[@GreenAppelPie]

I enjoy the movie very much. It’s a rare gem among the formulaic predictable Hollywood dishes up

[@tejasgingerbelle87]

Absolutely! Such a unique and masterfully made film.

[@zacharygreen6267]

I saw Cloud Atlas in the theater, and I was blown away, as were all of my friends I saw it with. A Undervalued masterpiece!

[@eddiehanley4258]

I love Cloud Atlas. It's so much to keep up with and so layered that most people get confused or otherwise give up on it, but it's definitely a masterpiece.

[@dallesamllhals9161]

"most people" = 'muricans?

[@domwalker6526]

One of the most underrated movies

[@blackraven0513]

I have watched Cloud Atlas 30+ times. To this day, it remains my favourite film. This movie changed my life. I have three copies of the book as well but the movie is something else. There aren't words to express how precious this film is to me.

[@benineimeo]

I've always interpreted this movie not believing in souls or reincarnation but rather that the choices we make will go on to affect those that exist after us regardless of time. Every choice you make has repercussions in the future and those choices will reverberate throughout all of human history.

[@user-fc2tj8lf2m]

It's one of the most beautifully told stories in film I've ever seen.

[@chriscassier4064]

I know, I know!

[@user-fc2tj8lf2m]

@@chriscassier4064 ain't that the true, true.

[@lonellfletcher]

I have absolutely no idea what I'm watching or what it is about, but Cloud Atlas is one of the most breathtaking, addictive cinematic experiences I've ever had. I pray Hollywood reverses course so that films like this may become the norm someday.

[@mdwesquire]

Cloud Atlas had its flaws but I still loved it.

[@themetalpig7613]

What do you think the flaws were? I hear harsh critics say this but never really expound on it.

[@lionlike5856]

@@themetalpig7613 The tone is all over the place, it straddles attempting cheeky humor with weighty, lofty motifs that are beyond its grasp neither of which feel earned, the makeup is comical & bizarre, not in a good way, I can’t tell if it’s supposed to be taken seriously or if it’s all tongue in cheek & I don’t think the film knows either, the dialogue is often clunky & delivered flat, I mean… how people think this is a masterpiece is beyond me.

[@MrZattack101]

When I saw this movie when I was 14, it changed my life. Changed how I saw society and how I viewed people.

[@johnhess9443]

Excellent movie. I wish there were more random, expensive, well acted sci-fi movies like this.

[@fluffdegoss]

I absolutely adore this movie. It ranks right up there with another movie similar to this one called Being Human with Robin Williams. In my opinion, both movies are truly underrated. I watch this one anytime I can.

[@necrosunderground]

Oh my gawd, thank you! Being Human was such a buried gem of a movie, you just never hear anything about it. These two make for an interesting double feature, for sure

[@chriscassier4064]

It's such a blast to watch a few times to pick up pieces you may have missed before.

[@carlosdelcampo119]

I love this movie. I watched it during a very dark time in my life.

[@philiparmstrong2815]

I had to have this movie on bluray. One of my favorite. It will become a yearly standard at Christmas.

[@skydweller7080]

Thanks for making this retrospective. Cloud Atlas is really my favorite movie and one of the few that was even better than the book.

[@mcrazza]

I went into Cloud Atlas a couple years ago under the impression it was an expensive dud and came out of it utterly blown away. It's a masterpiece. Unfairly underrated. Do not believe the naysayers.

[@comieodor]

Such a polarising film. My wife and I saw it at the Cinema and couldn't stop raving about it. Absolutely adored it. Then two weeks later my wife's brother and his wife saw it; They were so peeved to have organised a night away from their kids to see a "such a stupid film" on our recommendation. We can't find any middle ground with them. You either get it and love it. Or you don't and you don't.

[@user-lm1vc5wq5x]

You can get it and still not love it

[@dzzope]

@@user-lm1vc5wq5x Some can. Though I would agree most the people I know that didn't like it, really just couldn't follow what was going on between all the different stories. There were a couple of people that hated the re-incarnation/love conqers all theme.. They found it too naive and fantastical for them to get immersed in the story.. Biggest issue I think this movie has is that most people havn't heard of it.

[@caldodge]

"Cloud Atlas was a wonderful movie. Curse you proles for not flocking to see it!" - JoBlo

[@Valhallan]

I cry every single f***n time i watch this film... just watching this vid made me emotional ... goddamn

[@nathanielbacon2661]

The bad reviews for this movie baffle me to this day. I think it's a gorgeous, fantastic film.

[@maynardwayward12]

I've seen it three or four times and it seems there's always something I missed.

[@mr_yoru5834]

Omg someone is talking about Cloud Atlas. I must watch, like, and comment.

[@gJonii]

My gf asked me recently what's my favorite movie of all time. I thought about it for quite a while, going through all the movies I've seen, and ultimately, my answer was "Cloud Atlas". I was kinda surprised. It does feel messy in a way that doesn't fit my expectations for "the favorite of all time", but I just can't come up with any other title. It's the "What is an ocean, but a multitude of drops" line that just comes to mind that stands above any other movie moment.

[@themetalpig7613]

I absolutely love Cloud Atlas. It instantly became one of my favourite movies of all time. Never understood the poor reviews. It felt like ppl didn't understand it, were nitpicking it or were expecting it to be something it wasn't due to the Wachowski's past works, mainly The Matrix.

[@mattbeganie4519]

I used to force people that came to my house to watch Cloud Atlas. I loved this movie. I really need to revisit this movie!

[@sneakyskunk1]

I have a sneaking suspicion that Cloud Atlas will find its audience eventually(if it hasn't already).

[@Axolotl_Mischief]

Paused this 90 minutes in hoping it still had a ways to go...I was very happy to see that it was far from concluding...

[@JoBloOriginals]

Always great when that happens, isn't it? I remember the movie Wonder Boys being like that for me.

[@TheMikadoOfLondon]

OMG, you did an episode of my favourite movie of the 21st century! Thank you!!! P.S. Met David Mitchell at a book signing, an amazing, down-to-earth guy P.P.S. I'm sorry, but maybe it would have been worth looking up how to pronunce "Glasgow" and especially "Edinburgh"?

[@martijnspruit]

Or Leipzig for that matter.

[@MISHKINPUSH]

One of my top 5 films. Absolutely incredible in every way.

[@tbasparagi]

Read the book twice🥰 The film was actually REALLY good, too!

[@mcnultyssobercompanion6372]

Glad to see "Cloud Atlas" being talked about at all. It was my favorite film of 2012. The image of the plates falling around James D'Arcy and Ben Wishaw is one of my favorite images in cinema. Arrow Video needs to do something about this film, stat.

[@Locadel2003]

I enjoyed the segment with Tom Hanks & Hale Berry in the forest the most

[@ColonelKlinck]

Time to watch Cloud Atlas again. I think its a wonderful movie.

[@grungehippy]

It's a beautiful film. Remember seeing it opening weekend in the theater

[@Wllrd73]

The editing alone was extraordinary.

[@Xlappahony]

It's probably the movie with the highest rewatch value ever. Thanks for your honest rant at the end.

[@RikerLovesWorf]

I can't believe I'm saying this but this movie was actually good. Like, really good. Surprisingly good. Great performances, tight pacing (for being 3 hours!) and a really well done narrative plot that jumps around but doesn't feel convoluted.

[@AlexanderForsman]

one of my 3 favorite movies of all time

[@Teamo86]

This movie is everything. Thanks for giving it much deserved props.

[@kristjan-jonsson-film]

Probably the most fun I've ever had in a theatre

[@caldodge]

"The movie is still considered a financial failure." No need to be ambiguous. If the box office was $130 million, the actual amount received by the backers was probably half that. $65 million in vs. 146 million out is an actual financial failure, not just "considered" so by some people.

[@somebodynowhere]

I still don't know how this movie didn't at least get a nomination for makeup from the academy

[@themetalpig7613]

Or the music.

[@JoBloOriginals]

The music is a SHOCKING oversight.

[@themetalpig7613]

@@JoBloOriginals The music when he's narrating his letter to Sicksmith as he's in the bathtub about to off himself is perfection.

[@themetalpig7613]

@@JoBloOriginals The music when he's narrating his letter to Sicksmith as he's in the bathtub about to off himself is perfection.

[@CinemaBear]

Cloud Atlas is a ridiculously underrated movie; it's a near masterpiece.

[@caldodge]

Given some of the actions they've taken, I wouldn't consider Wachowski passions to be a harbinger of success.

[@wingding188]

First time viewing 2024. It was a movie ahead of its time and always will be. Never knew anything about it or any press (good or bad). Seen plenty of blockbuster, mindless escapism - was binging it as usual. The difference is knowing the difference. Beauty will save the world. Ugly never changes.

[@toneriggz]

It wasn't perfect but it was definitely ambitious and I enjoyed it overall.

[@Jon62491]

Just keeping it a stack. I heard so much critical and online acclaim to this movie. Watched it and thought, "that was a waste of time, I wish I had just watched anything else". It didn't connect with me at all. I thought it was way too convoluted, and I'm a fan of Kingdom Hearts. I feel like had this movie been cut/edited differently it would be much better.

[@NostalgiaVomitBootlegs]

Cloud Atlas did bad because it’s a confusing concept. Just like a Tenet. I’m sure it’s a beautiful movie, but the average moviegoer isn’t that smart.

[@deusexmachina9776]

Oh then please why Jupiter Ascending is 'smart'? just because it is none linear and philosophical doesnt make people who dislike it not smart, the filmmakers have more bad films than good films, there are flaws in cloud atlas. if you were actually intelligent you would aknwoledge the genuine criticism and admit you love it regardless.

[@martijnspruit]

Without a movie such as Cloud Atlas, a movie like Everything Everywhere All at Once could never have been made.

[@capitainefrite]

Great film, great adaptation. Highly recommend the book.

[@eddysandland58]

I liked the style look directing etc of the Halle Berry 70s Journalist, story line! Good film

[@ezydoesit993]

one of my favourite movies.

[@CaesarJayL]

I actually love Cloud Atlas watch it every year and it still confuses me to this day lol

[@stephaniegrace5654]

It was just so long. And then got confusing at parts

[@jerilynboyd3705]

Cloud Atlas is my all time favorite movie the cinematic masterpiece over many lifetimes is full of emotional energy that we all should see at least 3X ❤

[@cameron398]

The problem with the Wachowskis is for every good movie they make, they make a bunch like this train wreck. If your selling point is to understand it you will need to watch it several times is why people didn't watch it to start.

[@enricoflor3601]

I enjoyed this movie, and it's high time to rewatch it! 😊

[@anamnesiser]

The anker/ego can't comprehend this masterpiece

[@bartoszdulas1703]

I remember some people claiming that Cloud Atlas was a flop because it wasn't a competition to superhero genre as the same year we had a finale of Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy and Avengers breaking box office, but I call that bullshit. Interstellar and Pacific Rim also weren't superhero movies, yet they were a financial success. Cloud Atlas just wasn't the kind of movie that people wanted it to be. One of my teachers went to see Cloud Atlas and said that it is a bad movie because it doesn't know what genre it is. I told her that being more than one movie genre was the point. Every chapter is a different genre and it blends together perfectly: sea adventure, drama, thriller, comedy, cyberpunk sci-fi and dystopian sci-fi... and it all works. Tykwer and Wachowskis did an amazing job. Very underrated masterpiece. Don't know what people expected... I saw on promotional materials "Wachowskis, Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving and Keith David" and all I knew was that I want to see it. And I love this movie.

[@tkskagen]

I have tried to watch this movie to completion on 3 different occasions, but I never finished... Maybe I should try again?

[@JoBloOriginals]

Depends. it's a love it or hate it kind of thing

[@gevaliaamalia6350]

No, it is too smart and fancy for you. Go Marvel!

[@dallesamllhals9161]

Don't! 3 times = enough for you.

[@bpe-music]

13:34 "Both Time Magazine and The Village Voice named Cloud Atlas the worst movie of 2012". Ok, then why are both articles written by the same guy, Kevin Jagernauth, according to the screenshots?

[@tigermantv7090]

Cloud Atlas is one of most beautiful and awesome movie I've ever seen

[@knew_man]

One of the best movies ever made. A few years ago me and a friend took some L and were wanting to watch something. I mentioned this movie because I had "seen" it in theaters and said "oh it's on some crazy shit." I remember not really understanding it when I originally saw it, but this time I totally got it. We were so moved by the movie, we started it over immediately and watched it again. I cried both times. It's such a moving masterpiece that is so amazingly edited together. I recommend it to anyone. And if you like to experiment with hallucinogens, this is the perfect movie to watch. I almost get emotional thinking about it. Perfectly casted and directed. It's hard to believe it got such bad reviews.

[@burningpapersun1]

I remember watching this a long time ago and it wasnt horrible. Some scenes did stick with me and i just watched it again for the second time. It's a beautifully shot film that does seem like it was one director. It's by no means as bad as a lot of the negative press said at the time. It has some moments that drag on and feel disjointed. Overall for a film that has so many moving parts, it's amazing that it turned out decent at all.

[@unrealdevon]

Love it.

[@ECKohns]

The last movie The Wachowski’s made that had any merit.

[@ReallySmartDad]

It is a masterpiece. Period.

[@donle499]

I remember watching this movie at an advanced screening. As soon as the movie ended, I remember screaming WHAT DA F*CK at the top of my lungs. This movie is one of the most superbly annoying and perplexing movies I have ever seen in my goddamn life.

[@jjalcazar23]

Awesome movie. The book is great as well

[@outerheaven2k7]

Its a masterpiece, and i'll die on that hill

[@Mayor_Of_Eureka17]

I loved it.

[@blazingw3070]

True film making will never die the mainstream is rough but there is always ups and downs I hope we're at the bottom about to start the climb:)

[@bennygerow]

I've actually never even heard of it. I'll take a look though.

[@joshcrow777]

Slow burn that many couldn't get, or get through. 😂. I enjoyed it though.

[@REECE187Dp]

I really loved this movie

[@dee8391]

Watched the movie in Hawaii in 2012 and then read the novel on the way home. Can’t get anyone to watch it with me

[@jenniferrickard7228]

It's on Amazon Prime now.

[@M0RGAT0RY]

Damn, yo They called us 99.9% grown children at the end 😂

[@marcellusrobinson1465]

I really enjoyed this movie the ending brought tears to my eyes

[@Dra3000]

I never quite got the movie but I loved that I didn't it takes a lot of re watches to understand The criticism that I heard was how long it actually was and pacing

[@Roguedeus]

Just listening to the intro was enough for me to rethink watching... Not because of your work, but simply because of the apathy I feel for the movie itself. What a waste of time it was, and likely would still be.

[@thecombatdonkey6087]

What do you mean What happened to cloud atlas? It’s not like we were expecting it to have updates and DLC. They made the movie people watched the movie it got old.

[@lv2wap]

Thank you for creating this. I will use it every time I introduce people to this masterpiece

[@dycebastion]

I remember when matrix 4 was announced, and Joblo claimed that it was cowritten by the David Mitchell who stars in Peep Show, not the writer of Cloud Atlas. Lovely bit of journalism

[@jackbyrne4635]

Dark Knight Rises out here catchin strays

[@markmarzka2825]

I thought it was decent enough movie with great acting but i think the constant jumping between stories detracts from its enjoy-ability. also some of the makeup is a little off putting

[@jerryschramm4399]

There is a constant clamor for new and original movies. But when they are put out in public, they fail. Another notable excellent but ignored movie was "The Good Guys".

[@ZiggyMeister]

I really like this movie! I watched it at empty movie theater with 2 other random people…

[@joecamps1119]

Super underrated film but one reviewer summed up the yellowface best….Crowd Atrus. Super super goofy idea on the part of the Wachowskis.

[@joneshoward17]

I thought that Star Wars episodes 1-3 were the most expensive independent movies to be produced?

[@deeacosta2734]

It’s a masterpiece.

[@alteregobro4826]

can you do wtf happened to in the heart of the sea?

[@JoBloOriginals]

Possibly.

[@EDcase1]

A great film

[@nicwcarter]

How do you talk while out of breath for 15 minutes?

[@dzzope]

This film is so under-rated, even video essays on it don't perform as they should. 😅

[@MrJasonshores364]

Great movie